Bird News Friday 11th October

An adult Mediterrean Gull was at Seahill and 2 Wheatear at Seapark near Grey Point on the Ards peninsula. (Richard Weyl).

Dargan Road landfill area in Belfast this morning had 3 Greenshank and 2 Wheatear. (Ian Enlander).

Today a male Long-tailed Duck was at Portballintrae off the car park. Yesterday was a quieter day at Ramore, – a seawatch from 0800 – 1000 hrs produced 19 Barnacle Geese, 6 Whooper Swans, 32 Wigeon, 9 Common Scoters, 113 Teal, 3 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas and 7 Puffins. A short evening watch produced 11 Barnacle Geese and 12 Scaup. (Colin Guy).

Also seen at Ramore yesterday evening were a juvenile Sabine's Gull and 3 Common Scoter.(Matthew Tickner).

At Portmore Lough RSPB reserve the first Whooper Swans of the year have returned today, flocks of golden plover and lapwing are growing daily around the local area too. (Amy Burns).

13 immature Gannets were feeding in Belfast Lough off Greenisland Sea Park. (David Stirling).

Over 2,000 Eider were seen in Belfast Lough from the ferry. (Stephan Dunstan).

Last night Redwings were on the move over Antrim with at least 800 heading west (Davy Hunter)

Thanks to today's photographers, to Noel Austin for the pictures of the Wheatear, to Una McCarney for the picture of the Black-headed Gull and for the interesting "ghost" picture made by a pigeon flying into her window, and to Dessie Loughrey for the picture of the Rook.